| Press
Releases |
 Read our latest Press
Releases here (files in PDF format). |
| |
| Community
Dispatch |
 Download
issues of our NEW Website Newsletter: Community Dispatch! (files in PDF
format). |
| |
| Vial of
Life |
 Download a PDF file on the
"Vial of Life" program. |
| |
|
| |
News
Archives are arranged in order of most to least recent story. For current news,
visit our Home Page. If you have questions or comments, we would like to hear
from you. Please email us at info@laceyfire.com or call us at
(360) 491-2410.
|
 |
| |
| |
Voters in both the City of
Lacey and in Fire District 3 approved a ballot measure in April that will allow
the City of Lacey to annex into Fire District 3 for the purposes of fire and
life safety services.
Essentially,
this dissolves the boundaries of the City – for fire district purposes
only – and creates a unified service area for fire and life safety
services. Citizens in the newly combined District should see no changes in
service, as the same responders on the same apparatus from the same stations
will continue to provide service.
There are two big changes as a result of the annexation:
1) All homeowners in the newly
combined area will now pay the same property tax rate for fire district
services. In 2011, this rate is projected to be $1.07 per thousand of assessed
property value.
2)
All homeowners in the newly combined area will be eligible to vote on all
issues relating to the Fire District.
With annexation approved, the next step in the process is for the
City of Lacey to appoint two members to serve in an advisory capacity to the
Board of Fire Commissioners. Later this year, the voters will be asked if the
Board of Fire Commissioners should be increased from 3 to 5 Commissioners; all
citizens of the newly combined area will have the opportunity to vote on this
issue.
If you are interested in
becoming involved in Fire District governance, talk to the Lacey City Council,
the Board of Fire Commissioners or come to a Board of Fire Commissioners
meeting. Learn more about the Fire
District 3 Board of Fire Commissioners here.
|
 |
| |
| |
Firefighters Ethan Kruse
and Mike Perry were on duty February 13, 2010, when they were dispatched to an
emergency call involving a 10-month-old infant in cardiac arrest. While en
route, the team reviewed their protocols and planned their course of action in
an effort to not waste a single precious second during the
response.
Upon arrival at the scene,
Firefighters Kruse and Perry were told by the family that the baby had a known
history of cardiac problems. He had been found unconscious and not
breathing.
While it was a stressful
situation, both firefighters stayed calm and focused. They took over the scene
and the CPR from the grandfather. Their training and experience allowed them to
quickly assess the baby's condition. Firefighter Kruse performed chest
compressions on the little boy as Firefighter Perry took care of the airway.
The smaller features of the baby made it more difficult, but soon they detected
a pulse and breathing.
The baby was
immediately transported to Providence St Peter Hospital until stable and then
transferred to Children's Hospital in Seattle. He is making a slow but full
recovery after being discharged from children's Hospital on April 1st, just in
time to celebrate his first birthday at home with his family and
friends.
|
 |
| |
| |
On
April 1st and 2nd, LFD3 firefighters gave their time and encouragement to the
children of Centennial Elementary for their annual Climbing for Kids
fundraiser. The school children collect pledges for conquering various sections
of the climbing wall in the gymnasium. The fire fighters provided motivation to
the children and acted as judges for the event. This year the children raised
approximately $2000 for the non-profit organization Pennies for Peace. Through
this charity, children in over 400 mountain villages in remote northern
Pakistan and Afghanistan are on the waiting list, hoping to learn in a new
school. Centennial students hope to help build a bridge of peace, one penny at
a time, offering alternatives to the cycle of terrorism and war. Way to go
Centennial Elementary!
Click on
the thumbnails in the gallery for larger images of the
event:
|
 |
| |
| |
Congratulations to firefighters from across Thurston County who
raised over $1,500 dollars on behalf of the Leukemia /Lymphoma Society in their
search for a cure to these crippling diseases. Lacey Firefighters joined
colleagues from South Bay, Griffin, West Thurston, and North Olympia fire
departments in "climbing" a Stairmaster machine in the front lobby of Cabela's
on Saturday, February 20th. Kudos also to Sean Murphy (South Bay FD) for his
work to organize this local event.
The main event - the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb - will be held on
Saturday, March 7th at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle. At 788 feet of
vertical elevation, the Columbia Center (formerly Bank of America Tower) in
downtown Seattle stands as the second tallest building west of the Mississippi.
It takes 69 flights of stairs and 1,311 steps to reach the highly acclaimed
observation deck overlooking the city.
The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb supports the mission of The Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society, raising money through sponsorships, individual and
department fundraising, and entry fees. In 2009, the event featured over 1,500
firefighters from 244 different departments and brought in a record $640,000
for blood-cancer research and patient services
Click on the thumbnails in the gallery for larger images of the
event:
|
 |
| |
| |
| |
Notice of Public Hearing
Thursday, November 5th
2009 at 5:30pm
and Thursday, November 19th at
5:30pm
District Headquarters
1231 Franz Street SE, Lacey, WA
98503
This notice is posted to
inform all members of the public and the District that the Board of Fire
Commissioners will be holding a Public Hearing to receive questions and
comments regarding the District's draft 2010 Budget.
|
|
 |
| |
| |
On the evening of July
8th, 2009, an emergency call was received that a Fort Lewis soldier had become
suspended over 100' up in a tree while participating in a paratrooper training
exercise. Thurston County Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT) members Captain
Jon Winkelman (McLane Fire and Life Rescue) and Firefighter Scott Santhuff
(Lacey Fire District 3) responded to the call with Lacey Fire District's Ladder
Truck 31 and firefighters FF Dustin Hulbrock and Mike Perry assisting. During
the ensuing four-hour rescue, FF Santhuff and Captain Winkelman and their crews
used their tree rescue training to safely and successfully return the
paratrooper to the ground.
This
type of rescue and service would not have been possible without the initiative
and personal commitment of fire district members willing to spend hundreds of
hours learning the complexities of rope rescue and the support of the Thurston
County SORT. FF Santhuff has personally committed over 200 hours of his time
developing and conducting rope rescue training, just one example of the level
of personal commitment that our firefighters make to become an asset to our
community.
We would like to thank
and recognize FF Santhuff, Captain Winkelman and the Thurston County SORT for
making this a successful rescue and for their continued interest in protecting
our citizens and making a positive difference.
Paratrooper
Rescue in the words of Firefighter Scott Santhuff.
|
 |
| Original Post Date:
6/10/09 |
| |
| |
Have you ever
wondered what goes on in a fire station? Feel free to stop by one of our
stations and have District firefighters show you! It's an opportunity to take a
look at the big red trucks up close, and see where the firefighters live and
work while they are on duty. And while you're here, don't forget to take a
picture or two!
For group tours and
to ensure availability, please call 491-2410 during business hours to schedule
a tour. Tours are available during daylight hours.
|
|
 |
| Original Post Date:
6/10/09 |
| |
| |
The District
recently unveiled an updated Aid Unit that was refurbished by Braun Northwest
in Chehalis. By removing the patient compartment from a surplus medic van that
the District received from Medic One back in 2004 and placing it on a new
chassis, the District was able to save over $50,000 compared to the cost of
buying a new unit.
This unit is the
only one of its kind in the county that is equipped to handle special needs
patients that exceed the size or weight capacities of standard transport units.
"Special Needs Patient Services" are provided not only to District 3 and City
of Lacey residents but are also offered to the other fire/EMS agencies within
Thurston County through a reimbursement agreement with Medic One.
|
|
 |
| Original Post Date:
6/10/09 |
| |
| |
At the Annual
Recognition Banquet held recently, the District awarded "Firefighter of the
Year" to A-Shift Firefighter/EMT Neil Towers. Firefighter Towers has shown true
professionalism and dedication to the District, the community, and his team
members. Neil implemented and improved the "Vial of Life" program that District personnel and local
health care providers utilize to access pertinent patient medical history.
In addition, he was instrumental in
improving firefighter safety through the addition of a compartment in the cab
of the fire engines to safely store EMS equipment and supplies. Firefighter
Towers consistently shows great concern for those we serve, often going beyond
the call of the immediate emergency by providing follow-up assistance to
affected families. Congratulations Neil. You are truly one of our Everyday
Heroes.
Click here for complete list of
awards.
|
|
 |
| Original Post Date: 6/9/09 |
| |
Lacey Fire District 3
recently celebrated the graduation of Firefighter Preston Wallace from the
Tacoma Fire Department's Paramedic Class of 2009. Preston is the first fire
district Emergency Medical Technician to complete this intensive year-long
training program since the partnership between LFD3 and TFD was developed. The
course involves well over a thousand hours of classroom lectures, hands-on
practice stations, and field rotations through various hospital, community, and
fire department clinical training sites.
Preston joined the fire district in 1999 as a volunteer
firefighter and was hired into a full-time career position in 2005. Now that he
has completed the paramedic training course, he will return to C Shift where he
will complete the required testing and skill performance criteria to become
certified to practice as a paramedic within Thurston County. We are all very
proud of his tremendous accomplishment!
|
 |
| Original Post Date:
5/19/09 |
| |
We were granted a rare
opportunity on Friday to exchange handshakes and hugs with a young man whose
life was truly saved by the rapid and professional response of some of our team
members. Phillip is a playful and energetic 9 year old who suffered a sudden
cardiac arrest on his school's playground on April 29th. After spending a week
in the hospital and receiving an implanted defibrillator, Phillip and his
parents were anxious to have the opportunity to meet and thank those who took
such excellent care of him.
The
team included Truck 31 with Lt. Pearsall and FF/EMTs Paulsen and Barney, Medic
3 with Lt. Lutz and FF/PM Kollar, Battalion 3 with B/C Crimmins, and assistance
from Angela and Bryan on Ambulance 3. We want to add our thanks and admiration
to those offered by Phillip's family and the representatives from his school
for a job well done!
|
 |
| Original Post Date:
4/30/09 |
| |
Child Car Seat Inspection and Open House
Saturday, May
16th, 10am to 4pm
Headquarters Station 31
1231 Franz St SE Lacey
Presented in conjunction with
Thurston County Sheriff's Office and
Thurston County Safe
Kids.
|
 |
| Original Post Date:
4/30/09 |
|
